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Contents spring2013
volume 01 | issue 03
FEATURES
10 14 16 20 26 30 34 36 38
COVER STORY: Zahava Aarons Surviving Postnatal Depression
40 42 48
RELATE: The Inner Critic Making Sense of the Negative Inner Voice
Mental Health Recovery A New Understanding Adult and Child ADHD Information and Inspiration
WIN!
Books, DVDs & Tickets For our fabulous giveaways, see pages 7, 13, 23, 32
E.L.S.K.E PHOTOGRAPHY
Mary-Anne Swarts A Life Now Worth Living
Spice Your Way to (Mental) Health The Medicinal Properties of Spices I’ve Gotta Feeling… How to Understand and Work with Your Emotions
38
MOVE: Kickboxing Kick and Punch Your Way to Health DO: Journaling A Well-known Therapeutic Tool EAT: Healthy Options Roasted Vegetables with Chickpeas & Quinoa Coconut Bread
TRY: Laughter Therapy The HA HA HA Phenomenon J.K. Rowling Magic in Adversity
16 20
IN EVERY ISSUE...
03 Editor’s Notes
08 8 Steps for Mental Wellness
04 Inbox
44 Inspiration
05 Ask the Expert
45 Subscribe
06 Newsdesk
47 Resources
Spring2013 | 1
PUBLISHING EDITOR Jen Goy jen@thrivemag.co.za CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Angelique da Costa angelique@thrivemag.co.za COPY EDITOR: Anna Herrington PANEL OF EXPERTS Prof. Dan Stein BSc(Med), MBChB, FRCPC, PhD, DPhil Dr Judy Bentley MBChB, MMed(Psych), FCPsych(SA) Dr David Dennis MBChB, FCPsych(SA) Dr Neil Horn MBChB, FCPsych(UK) Dr John Parker MBBCH, FCPsych(SA) Dr Arien van der Merwe MBChB, FRSCH(London), MISMA(UK) Engelie Brand MSc(Med App Psych), MA(Clin Psych) Equivalence Bradley Drake MSc(Clin Psych) Zureida Garda MA(Clin Psych) Tebogo Makgabo MA(Clin Psych) Corrie Davidson MA(Social Work) Dr Rene Jeannes M.Tech Homeopathy Beatrice Rabkin BSc(Nutr Med), Dip.Pharm Shona Saayman BSc(OT) Honours Dr Jaci Schultz M.Tech Homeopathy Nurain Tisaker BSocSc(Social Work) Honours LIFE COACHES: Godfrey Madanhire, Elmarie Potgieter, Susan Roy ACC. PCD. ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES ads@thrivemag.co.za SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES subs@thrivemag.co.za EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES info@thrivemag.co.za PRINTED BY Tandym Print RETOUCHING BY Colour Extreme COPYRIGHT Turquoise Swan Media Pty(Ltd). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior permission of the Editor.
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PERSONAL STORIES All personal stories in Thrive are real. However, due to the stigma surrounding mental illness, most people wish to remain anonymous. If you would like to make contact, email stories@thrivemag.co.za. Your message will be forwarded to the person concerned.
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ON THE COVER: Zahava Aarons PHOTOGRAPHY: Elske Kritzinger E.L.S.K.E Photography 082 927 7194 elskegallery.co.za 2 | Spring2013
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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Thrive. Always consult a specialist before making any changes to your diet or medication.
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I’d love to hear from you! email hello@ thrivemag. co.za
he stigma attached to mental illness is pervasive and immeasurably destructive. It means that those with mental illness – and even their supporters – wish to keep it secret and, to do so, often refuse to get the help that they so desperately need. It means that mental health is always right at the bottom of the health budget priority list. It means that sufferers often judge themselves severely, permanently carrying around a pernicious burden of shame. Recent research has shown that those with mental illness are even stigmatized by healthcare professionals, often not being properly treated for other medical conditions. Yet, it is estimated that 1 in 4 people will experience some form of mental illness at some stage in their lives. And this proportion is rising. Moreover, mental illness kills. In South Africa, there are over 22 suicides and 220 suicide attempts every 24 hours, and 90% are a direct result of depression. It is no wonder that mental illness is becoming known as the silent medical emergency. Something needs to be done. Fast.
“MENTAL ILLNESS IS BECOMING KNOWN AS THE SILENT MEDICAL EMERGENCY.” Yes, we need advocacy. However, there are two other potentially world-changing prongs of attack. The first is education of the media. The second is for those with mental illness to “come out”, particularly those who have recovered or are living successfully alongside it. Let’s look at the media. There’s often blatant misrepresentation – factual,
sensationalist or both. However, perhaps even worse, is the subtle, often unconscious undermining which is achieved by the use of an inappropriate word or phrase – an undermining that can be difficult to pick up unless we pay careful attention. A little while ago, I came across an article in a mainstream South African magazine which really pushed my buttons. It was on bipolar disorder. The writer had clearly done her research, and the facts were accurate. All good. Until the sentence: “People with bipolar disorder are doomed to take medication for the rest of their lives”. Yes, having bipolar disorder generally does mean that. But “doomed”? Come on! If you have hypertension and need chronic meds, are you “doomed”? And what about a woman on the pill? Is she “doomed”? We would never say that. So why do we say it so easily for bipolar disorder (and any other chronic mental disorder)? I myself have bipolar disorder, and being labelled “doomed” makes me feel pitied, “less than” and disempowered. All this, due to only one word used unconsciously by someone who, more than likely, felt she was decreasing the stigma by writing a factually accurate article. So we have rather a large challenge on our hands. However, not so long ago we had similar challenges with regards to dark skin and sexual orientation and, although prejudice and stigma still exist, we have come a long way. Now it’s time for mental illness to take centre stage. If we delay, the consequences will be immense.
Spring2013 | 3
HAVE YOU ENJOYED READING THRIVE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
HELLO@THRIVEMAG.CO.ZA
Importance of Nutrition I am thrilled to have discovered Thrive magazine as I am on a quest to learn more about depression, the illness I have lived with for 16 years. Time and time again, I leave my appointments with mental health professionals feeling that my questions have gone unanswered. This is extremely frustrating. I recently visited a new psychiatrist in order to go back on medication (I had stopped taking it for a while as I had been trying to fall pregnant). It was a very disappointing experience and I left feeling worse than when I had arrived. In my experience, it seems that GPs and psychiatrists often only want to treat the symptoms, rather than trying to find the underlying cause. I wholeheartedly believe in the ability of correct nutrition to heal the body. I am a qualified dietician (although currently
DR NEIL HORN MBChB, FCPsych (UK) PG Dip (Cog Ther) Neil is a psychiatrist with a special interest in bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety and cognitive therapy. He trained in the UK and works at UCT, Valkenberg Hospital and in private practice. neil.horn@uct.ac.za health.uct.at.za 4 | Spring2013
not practising), however I am becoming increasingly interested in nutritional therapy. I am very excited to see you have a nutritional therapist on your Panel of Experts. Claudia Misselhorn, Johannesburg Yes, we at Thrive most definitely believe in the healing power of correct nutrition. It takes effort to change the way we eat, but the potential mental health benefits are enormous.
Many Thanks! I felt as if a light had been turned on when I started reading Thrive. It contains so much important and relevant information. Many thanks! I have an adult daughter with schizophrenia and OCD, who is under my care. It has been an extremely difficult journey for our whole family. I gave my magazine to my daughter’s boyfriend (I only lent it to him!). He was thrilled with it and now wants to give it to his Mom to read. I also want to lend my precious magazine to the psychiatric sister who
SHONA SAAYMAN BSc(OT)Honours Shona is an occupational therapist in private practice. She combines creativity, movement and other modalities in individual treatment, and facilitates weekly creative adult support groups. shonams@iafrica.co.za 83 357 5292
takes a group of schizophrenic sufferers for “coffee group” once a week. It looks like my copy of Thrive is going to prove useful to many people. Keep up the good work! Anonymous, Durban We hope that this issue of Thrive proves to be just as useful!
No Longer Ashamed! I have bipolar disorder type 1 and have struggled with the symptoms all my life, having been hospitalized many times. This year has been the worst one so far – I have been in four institutions. I am currently a day patient at a halfway house and it is here that I discovered Thrive magazine. It has really inspired me and I have finally clicked that I actually do need to take my pills in order to function in life, and that it is nothing to be ashamed of. Thank you. Tanya McCraig, Johannesburg It is wonderful to hear that you’re no longer ashamed of taking medication. We wish you all the best for your wellness journey.
GODFREY MADANHIRE BTech(Education) Godfrey is a life coach and motivational speaker. He is the driving force behind Dreamworld Promotions and, through his seminars, workshops and presentations has helped many people significantly change their lives. dreamworldpromotions.co.za
ELMARIE POTGIETER Elmarie is a certified life coach and NLP practitioner. She wrote the article Journaling on page 36. She has also developed comprehensive mood charts which are available for download at thrivemag.co.za elmarie@crus.co.za 072 777 3570
ASK THE EXPERT
“What’s the difference between a panic attack and anxiety?”
A
Do you have a question for our experts? Email hello@thrivemag.co.za
DR JUDY BENTLEY MBChB, MMed(Psych), FCPsych(SA) Judy is a psychiatrist in private practice in Cape Town. She is on Thrive’s Panel of Experts and wrote the article 8 Steps for Mental Wellness on page 8. claremont neuropsych.co.za drjudybentley@ gmail.com
nxiety acts as a signal which alerts us to potential danger. We tend to feel anxious when we start asking ourselves “what if” questions, for example: “What if I fail?”, “What if I don’t cope?”, “What if the car breaks down?”. Anxiety is different to fear, which we experience when there is an actual, known and present danger, and not just a potential danger. Both anxiety and fear are normal human emotions. Anxiety has an emotional component, a cognitive (thought) component and a physical component. The emotional component is the feeling of apprehension, a sense of things being wrong or going wrong, and a vague feeling of dread or even a sense of doom. The cognitive component involves distortion of thoughts, such as only noticing the worrying aspects of the environment that confirm the fear, and not seeing the aspects of the situation that could reassure us that there is, in fact, nothing wrong. When we are overly anxious, we struggle to concentrate and our memory is poor. Physical symptoms of anxiety include stomach upsets (”butterflies” and sometimes diarrhoea), dizziness, sweating, increased blood pressure, palpitations, restlessness, feeling faint, a racing pulse, tremors, tingling in the fingers, and needing to go to the toilet more often and more urgently. Anxiety becomes pathological (an illness) when it occurs in situations that most
people do not find anxiety-provoking, or when it is excessive, disabling or persistent. In generalized anxiety disorder, people feel continually and excessively anxious about normal daily concerns, so much so, that it interferes with their ability to function. On the other hand, panic attacks are episodic and happen suddenly, with no warning. They can occur as a result of exposure to a feared object (e.g., a person who has a phobia for dogs and experiences a panic attack when seeing a dog) or out of the blue (true panic disorder).
When having a panic attack, people experience overwhelming anxiety, fear and discomfort. The attack starts abruptly and reaches its maximum point within approximately ten minutes. It then slowly subsides. The feelings are often accompanied by a sense that they are going to die, or that they are going crazy. There are symptoms of arousal (sweating, palpitations, shaking or a dry mouth), symptoms involving the chest and abdomen (difficulty breathing, a choking feeling, chest pain or nausea), general symptoms (hot flushes, cold chills, numbness or tingling sensations) and symptoms involving mental state (dizziness, feeling faint, feeling that objects are unreal or that the person is not really present, fear of losing control or dying). Because of the intensity of these physical symptoms, people who are experiencing a panic attack often end up in the casualty ward at a hospital, being investigated for heart or breathing problems. Spring2013 | 5
This year the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) will be focusing on depression in the elderly. To foster awareness, they will be giving a series of talks in retirement homes and frail care centres countrywide. For more info, contact SADAG 011 262 6396 admin@anxiety.org.za
volume 01 | issue 03
2 DESIGNS: Mal-adjusted or Nor-mal 2 STYLES: Mens relaxed fit tee & Womens fitted tee 3 COLOURS: Chocolate with mustard print. Black with grey print (men’s only). Mustard with chocolate print (women’s only) 5 SIZES: S, M, L, XL & XXL. For sale on Thrive’s website thrivemag.co.za/shop * All proceeds go to the Lentegeur Hospital Spring Project.
The Brain Basics article in Thrive’s Autumn 2013 issue mentioned that although a computer simulation of the brain is theoretically possible, it is most likely impractical. It seems that the European Union (EU) disagrees. Earlier this year, the Human Brain Project (HBP) was voted one of the first two EU Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) flagship projects, gaining ¤1 billion in funding. The HBP, based at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, is headed by Professor Henry Markram. Giant kudos go to the South African educational system – Prof. Markram is a born and bred South African, educated at the University of Cape Town. According the Prof. Markram, the HBP aims to “reconstruct the brain systematically, to piece the pieces together, derive the biological rules [and] test them”. The ultimate goal of the project is to reach a comprehensive understanding of how the brain works, with the possibility of finding cures for brain disorders ranging from “autism to Alzheimer’s”. The opinion of the scientific world on the achievability of this goal is divided. In an email published in Nature magazine, Kevin Martin, co-director of the Institute for Neuroinformatics in Zurich, acknowledges that passionate men such as Prof. Markram are needed to drive science forward, but goes on to wonder: “… what if they’re passionately wrong?”. Let’s hold thumbs that Prof. Markram is passionately right! humanbrainproject.eu Source – The Telegraph, UK 6 | Spring2013
ERIC MILLER
spring2013
In July, Mental Health Awareness Month, the SA Federation for Mental Health started a long-term, national awareness project on the need to upscale mental health services. As part of the campaign, people with psychiatric disabilities protested with placards and two hospital beds in central Cape Town. The participants were service users from Cape Mental Health’s Fountain House (a psychosocial rehabilitation day centre in Observatory – the only one of its kind in South Africa), as well as members of the Cape Consumer Advocacy Body (CCAB), a self-advocacy group for people with psychiatric disabilities, and staff from Cape Mental Health.
spring2013
BodyTalk is a holistic therapy that promotes the body’s ability to heal itself. BodyTalk is a noninvasive way to identify the root causes of your health issues. It allows your body to unblock the related energy pathways in the body so that it can more effectively heal itself. Dr John Veltheim, from the USA, the creator of BodyTalk, will be talking about and demonstrating this consciousness-based healthcare system at the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town on Tuesday 1 October from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost R100. 3 sets of double For more info, see tickets up for grabs! bodytalksystem.com Email win@thrivemag. or contact Lee-Ann co.za by Tuesday 24 Connolly lee@thriveSeptember. za.com thrive-za.com
GIVEAWAY
volume 01 | issue 03
ALL EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE ON
The popular SABC 3 television series, I am Woman Leap of Faith, now in its second season, gets audiences thinking about leaping into the great unknown. Covering the life stories of South African women, the series creators ask the powerful and challenging question: “What does it mean to take a real risk, to stretch way beyond your comfort zone, to embrace chaos, and to welcome deep inner change?” Sometimes we do this by choice, and sometimes we have no choice, but always, we have to leap…
iamwomanseries.com INCLUDING: Sindiwe Magona (S1, episode 18) acclaimed writer, and depression survivor. Lynn Witten (S1, episode 22) sexual abuse survivor. Lindiwe Bardill (S2, episode 12) anorexia survivor. Jen Goy (S2, episode 8) Thrive’s publishing editor and bipolar disorder survivor.
by Dr Judy Bentley MBChB, MMed(Psych), FCPsych(SA)
GET WELL
3 KNOW YOUR ILLNESS
1 SEE A DOCTOR If you have symptoms that are starting to affect your daily life, it’s time to see a doctor. Your GP is qualified to treat milder mental illnesses. However, if you have an illness such as depression that is causing you to stay away from work, is affecting your relationships, or is recurrent, you need to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist who can give you a more accurate assessment and provide in-depth management. If necessary your GP or psychiatrist will be able to refer you to a therapist for additional treatment.
Knowledge is power! Get to know the symptoms, signs, and what you can expect from your illness. Briefly record what you are experiencing each day. This will keep track of your improvement, and will show early signs of your symptoms worsening. This information is also extremely helpful to your doctor in assessing your progress. Research your illness and learn about ways to get and stay mentally well. However, make sure that the information comes from a reputable source.
2 TAKE YOUR MEDS NEED INSPIRATION?
See Thrive’s Regular Sections: EAT, MOVE, DO, RELATE & TRY! 8 | Spring2013
If medication is prescribed, take it regularly. It is the only way to ensure that you get the response you want. If you have side effects, or notice anything unusual or undesirable while on the medication, speak to your doctor. Don’t just stop taking it. Stopping any medication suddenly can be dangerous or make you feel ill.
STAY WELL
5 MOVE Exercise has been proven to reduce stress and improve recovery from depression. Keep moving!
4 EAT Eat regular meals even if you have very little appetite. Little and often is good for you. Keep up your intake of fruit and veg. Try not to give in to the temptation to live off carbohydrate-laden pastries and sweets. Choose low GI foods. This regulates your blood sugar and improves the functioning of your brain. It is particularly important for people who experience a lot of anxiety. A little of what you fancy does you good - eat a square or two of dark chocolate daily. Omega-3s help to protect your brain. Eat oily fish at least three times a week and/or take a supplement.
Remember: Always be gentle with yourself. Accept where you are at and set ‘baby step’ goals. Aim for progress and not perfection.
6 DO Sleep! Ensure that you keep regular hours as much as possible. Go to bed and get up at the same time each day regardless of whether it is during the week or on a weekend. Explore your creativity! Your brain needs stimulation to keep healthy. Get outdoors and soak up as much light and sunshine as possible. Even better, exercise outdoors. Explore stress management and relaxation activities. Find what works for you and do it!
7 RELATE The most important relationship is with yourself. Take time to work on this. Being part of a community is good for your mental health. Improve your relationship skills, and nurture old and new friendships. Get involved in giving back to your community in a way that works for you. Don’t isolate yourself no matter how much you feel like retreating. Contact with friends and family gives perspective and energy. If possible, see a therapist regularly.
8 NURTURE YOURSELF You can’t give to others if you have nothing left to give. Take time out regularly to recharge your batteries. Spring2013 | 9
Inspiration
“The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes didn’t have tears.” African Proverb
44 | Spring2013
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Your best friend feels worthless and is in a sad mood that does not go away – how can you help? Your daughter is cutting herself – how can you help?
Mental Health First Aid training program enables you to help your family, friends, or colleagues who are at risk of developing a mental illness or in a mental health crisis.
You will learn to assist them by applying a five step action plan for mental health first aid. By doing so you will contribute to: Fh[i[hl[ b_\[ m^[h[ W f[hied cWo X[ W ZWd][h to themselves and / or others. Fh[l[dj W c[djWb ^[Wbj^ fheXb[c \hec developing into a serious state. Fhel_Z[ Yec\ehj je W f[hied ik\\[h_d] \hec W mental illness. H[Ye]d_i[ W c[djWb ^[Wbj^ fheXb[c eh Yh_i_i$ Fhecej[ h[Yel[ho e\ c[djWb ^[Wbj^$ CW_djW_d W XWbWdY[Z b_\[$ H[ZkY[ \Wc_bo Z_ijh[ii$ H[ZkY[ ij_]cW$
To learn more about Mental Health First Aid go to www.mhfasa.co.za or send a message to info@mhfasa.co.za JhW_d_d] fhe]hWc WYYh[Z_j[Z m_j^ ', 9F: fe_dji Xo j^[ >[Wbj^ Fhe\[ii_edWb 9ekdY_b e\ Iekj^ 7\h_YW$
Resources & Useful Info. “because knowing where to get help is the first step to recovery…”
HELPLINES
SADAG Suicide Crisis Line 0800 567 567 SMS 31393 8am-8pm Pharmadynamics Police and Trauma Line 0800 20 50 26 8am-8pm AstraZeneca Bipolar Line 0800 70 80 90 8am-8pm Sanofi Aventis Sleep Line 0800 753 379 8am-8pm SADAG Mental Health Line 011 262 6396 8am-8pm
Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Line 0800 12 13 14 SMS 32312 24hr helpline Dr Reddy’s Help Line 0800 21 22 23 8am-8pm Lifeline lifeline.org.za National 0861 322 322 AIDS 0800 012 322 Stop Gender Violence 0800 150 150
Are you finding it hard to cope with everyday life? You could be suffering from depression.
Laugh your stress & worries away! WELLNESS PROGRAMMES TEAM BUILDING EVENTS STRESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES Bronwyn Kilroe Certified Laughter Coach Cell: 083 383 0173 Email: laughtersessions@telkomsa.net Web: www.laughtersessions.com
Go to mySupport.co.za for support and understanding.
PROFESSIONALS Psychiatrists sasop.co.za Psychologists psychotherapy.co.za
DECREASES DEPRESSION REDUCES STRESS & TENSION DECREASES ANXIETY BOOSTS HEALTH BUILDS SELF CONFIDENCE CREATES A POSITIVE MINDSET IMPROVES MOOD MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD
Laughter is the Best Medicine! ho ho… ha ha ha!
FREE COUNSELLING Lifeline lifeline.org.za FAMSA famsa.org.za 67 Visagie Street, Monte Vista, 7460, South Africa Tel: +27 21 558 7252 | Fax: +27 21 558 7425 | Mobile: +27 82 584 9834
www.cognitive-behaviour-therapy.co.za
SUPPORT GROUPS Contact SADAG for groups in your area 011 262 6396
INFORMATION ON MENTAL ILLNESS sadag.org health24.com psychcentral.com nami.org
ONLINE FORUMS bipolarsa.org.za psychcentral.com nami.org Spring2013 | 47
By Lara Lane
“
We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This advice given to the world’s most famous wizard may ring as a hollow platitude to those not familiar with the life story of J.K. Rowling, author of the spectacularly successful Harry Potter series. However, to those who do know a bit about the personal past of one of the world’s richest self-made women, each similar sentiment uttered by characters in the stories, resonates with profound wisdom. Joanne Rowling has fought her very own battle – that against severe clinical depression. This depression was probably due to a combination of her unfortunate life circumstances and sensitive psychological make-up. An unhappy childhood gave way to a failed marriage and a life of poverty as a single mother in a tiny flat in Edinburgh. It was then that thoughts of suicide started to plague this now iconic figure. For Rowling, the writing of Harry Potter constituted a form of psychological selfhealing – an exercise that was at once therapeutic and escapist. Through the novels, she resolved many of her own
48 | Spring2013
childhood issues, even giving Harry a family at the conclusion of the series. However, it was not only the writing that helped Rowling get back on her feet. She eventually decided to seek help and committed herself to an intensive period of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This provided a solid platform from which she could pursue her creative outlet. Cognitive behavioural therapy is designed to help patients control their negative thoughts and typically involves a series of sessions with a therapist. The technique is recommended for depression, anxiety, bulimia and posttraumatic stress disorder. Although Rowling describes her initial depression as “a numbness, a coldness and an inability to believe you will feel happy again”, her commitment to CBT and the pursuit of her creative passions finally lifted her out of her negative mental state. “Harry Potter gave me back self-respect. Harry gave me a job to do that I loved more than anything else,” she said. “It was an amazing thing that happened.” At the pinnacle of the success of the Harry Potter books, when almost overnight she became a celebrity with her face recognized world-wide, Rowling experienced a second bout of depression
and went back into therapy to learn to cope with the pressures of this fame. Rowling is the UK’s best-selling author of all time and almost single-handedly responsible for the creation of a billion dollar industry. However, Rowling has decided not to forget the role that her suffering played in the development of her personal and professional life. At most opportunities, she speaks out about her struggle, categorically dismissing the stigma that is so often attached to mental illness. “What’s to be ashamed of? I went through a really rough time and I am quite proud that I got out of that.”
Rowling’s latest novel, The Casual Vacancy, explores the realities of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a refreshingly serious and enlightened manner. Although approximately one in every 50 people will suffer from some form of OCD in his or her lifetime, this debilitating disorder is often made light of, and its symptoms seen as due to superstition or an obsessive tendency for order. Inspired in part by her own experience of the disorder in her teens, Rowling uses the novel to explore how people with obsessive-compulsive disorder develop rituals to deal with the upsetting thoughts they’re having. These rituals are an attempt to regain a sense of control. However, they provide little relief as they don’t address the deeper issues. J.K. Rowling stands as an icon of inspiration to everyone who has ever suffered from a form of mental illness. Not because of her immense talent or success, but because of the single decision she made, one dreary evening in a flat in Edinburgh, to seek help and turn her life around. As the all-knowing Dumbledore says in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”.